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Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

  • 20082008
  • 14A14A
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
DocumentaryCrime

Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary filmmaker Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.

IMDb RATING
7.2/10
5K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Marina Zenovich
  • Writers
    • Joe Bini
    • P.G. Morgan
    • Marina Zenovich
  • Stars
    • Andrew Braunsberg
    • Richard Brenneman
    • Douglas Dalton
Top credits
  • Director
    • Marina Zenovich
  • Writers
    • Joe Bini
    • P.G. Morgan
    • Marina Zenovich
  • Stars
    • Andrew Braunsberg
    • Richard Brenneman
    • Douglas Dalton
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 69Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 2 Primetime Emmys
      • 5 wins & 13 nominations total

    Photos17

    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Marina Zenovich in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Laurence J. Rittenband in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    Roman Polanski in Le locataire (1976)
    Lawrence M. Silver and Roger Gunson in Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Andrew Braunsberg
    • Self - Producer & Polanski's Friendas Self - Producer & Polanski's Friend
    Richard Brenneman
    • Self - Reporter, Santa Monica Evening Outlookas Self - Reporter, Santa Monica Evening Outlook
    Douglas Dalton
    • Self - Attorney for the Defenseas Self - Attorney for the Defense
    Marilyn Beck
    • Self - Hollywood Gossip Columnistas Self - Hollywood Gossip Columnist
    Steve Barshop
    • Self - Assistant District Attorneyas Self - Assistant District Attorney
    Madeline Bessmer
    • Self - Girlfriend #2as Self - Girlfriend #2
    Michael M. Crain
    • Self - Former Public Defenderas Self - Former Public Defender
    Samantha Geimer
    Samantha Geimer
    • Self - Victimas Self - Victim
    Mia Farrow
    Mia Farrow
    • Self - Actressas Self - Actress
    Pedro Almodóvar
    Pedro Almodóvar
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Istvan Bajzat
    • Self - Photographeras Self - Photographer
    Pierre-André Boutang
    • Self - Polanski's Friendas Self - Polanski's Friend
    Nicolas Cage
    Nicolas Cage
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Michael Caine
    Michael Caine
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    John Cassavetes
    John Cassavetes
    • Guy Woodhouseas Guy Woodhouse
    • (archive footage)
    Dick Cavett
    Dick Cavett
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Furnell Chatman
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    Joan Collins
    Joan Collins
    • Selfas Self
    • (archive footage)
    • Director
      • Marina Zenovich
    • Writers
      • Joe Bini
      • P.G. Morgan
      • Marina Zenovich
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    In 1977, Roman Polanski was arrested in Los Angeles on charges he gave drugs and had sex with a 13-year-old girl he was photographing for Vogue. Eleven months later, having pled guilty to one count, he fled to Europe before sentencing. This film examines that year-long period, using archival footage of the media frenzy and of Polanski's life before the charges, clips from his films, and contemporary interviews with many of the principles - attorneys, the victim, and Polanski's friends and associates. Polanski remains enigmatic, but portraits emerge of the machinations of justice and of a judge more interested in his image than his word or the law. —<jhailey@hotmail.com>
    statutory rapeteenage girlsex with teenagerimmoralityeiffel tower110 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • The truth couldn't fit in the headlines.
    • Genres
      • Documentary
      • Crime
    • Certificate
      • 14A
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      On 26 September 2009, Roman Polanski was detained by Swiss police at Zurich Airport while trying to enter Switzerland. Since this was only 1 year and 7 months after the release of this widely discussed documentary at Sundance (Jan.18, 2008), there is reason to believe, that this film was actually what caused the new arrest warrant, because it dared to question the legality of Polanski's L.A. trial in 1977 and 1978 before he fled to France on 1st February 1978. Polanski and his lawyers also tried to use the new evidence from this documentary to attack the L.A. justice system, which must have awakened their new interest in the old case, too.
    • Quotes

      Samantha Geimer: The worst part was... no one believed me.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: The Dark Knight/Hancock/Meet Dave/Journey to the Center of the Earth/Hellboy II: The Golden Army/The Wackness/Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008)
    • Soundtracks
      Lullaby
      Written by Krzysztof Komeda

      Sung by Mia Farrow

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    The Only Thing That Matters
    Ultimately, Roman Polanski--whose work I've enjoyed--drugged a 13 year old girl, raped her anally, and got away with it without punishment. The media frenzy is irrelevant. The eccentric judge is irrelevant. The only pertinent piece of data is that He got away with it. Scott free. If it wasn't so cynical, Polanski's gall in seeking to clear his reputation would be comical. Mr.Polanski should thank his luck that he avoided incarceration; his apologists should be ashamed of themselves.

    That said, Ms. Zenovich is a talented filmmaker. Her execution is steady and workmanlike. However, she clearly has an agenda. This isn't a bad movie, but it's a disingenuous one. Don't take my word for it, but if you watch it try to look objectively at how the two sides of this case are presented, how the victim is trivialized and how her advocates are villainized, and make your own determination.
    helpful•19
    19
    • oakleafmold-1
    • Feb 28, 2009

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 11, 2008 (Greece)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
    • Official site
      • Cinefilo
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
      • German
    • Also known as
      • Roman Polanski: Se busca
    • Production companies
      • HBO Documentary Films
      • Graceful Pictures
      • British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $59,192
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,613
      • Jul 13, 2008
    • Gross worldwide
      • $100,458
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1h 39m
    • Color
      • Black and White
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

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